In a job interview, could there be any other four words in the English language so terrifying, fraught with meaning, and just plain paralyzing?
When asked this question, it’s no wonder that most people tend to freeze up, get nervous, and then overcompensate by talking too much. But that’s exactly the scenario that could cost you an opportunity, according to Joann Lublin’s recent article in the Wall Street Journal.
Lublin’s article is very helpful in suggesting ways that an interviewee can avoid the “over talking” syndrome, including rehearsing short statements about how your background matches the job, making sure you understand what is being asked, and keeping an eye on the interviewer’s body language.
Reading Lublin’s article reinforced my belief that a little preparation before an interview goes a long way, not only in helping you put your best face forward, but also in helping you relax and let your true self and your best qualities shine through. End result? Hopefully, you make a great impression on the company you want to join and they make you an offer you can’t refuse.
Contributed by Kathryn Nilsson Reichert
The Fresh Air Fund’s Annual Fall Benefit & Silent Auction
NewsSince 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations in the country to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income neighborhoods. Each year, nearly 10,000 children visit volunteer host families in 13 states and Canada through the Friendly Town Program or attend Fresh Air Fund camps.
The Fresh Air Fund’s annual Fall benefit will be a Black Tie event with dinner, dancing, a silent auction, and an open bar.
Breaking the “Quant Jock” Stereotype
Next LevelWomen, let’s rock the boat in Quantitative Analytics. Mostly known as a field for “Quant Jocks,” this financial sector is yearning for female professionals. In capital markets, where women have been traditionally underrepresented, this is one career where we have been dealt the upper hand.
Quantitative Analytics, or “quant” to those in the know, is defined as the process of determining the value of a security by examining its numerical, measurable characteristics such as revenues, earnings, margins, and market share. This mathematics –heavy discipline often relies on complex computer-driven algorithms to analyze investments and generate an investment strategy.
Scott Gerson of Focus Capital, an Executive Search firm for the IT sector of the financial industry, believes that if women have the same credentials as men, women will get quant jobs over their male counterparts, due to the lack of diversity in the hedge fund world. Scott estimates that 20% of the consultants he places in quant jobs are female. With the intellectual challenges, fast-paced environment and opportunities for advancement; I wondered why more women weren’t pursuing this aspect of finance.
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inMotion, Justice by Chocolate
NewsPlease join inMotion at an exclusive party with a group of young lawyers and professionals who are committed to helping inMotion provide free legal and social services to New York City’s under-served and abused women.
Private cocktail reception and chocolate tasting at Jacques Torres Chocolate.
Delicious chocolate, savory hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails will be served, and Jacques Torres Chocolate will donate 5% of all in-store sales from the night to inMotion.
To purchase tickets and find out more info, click on; https://secure2.ersvp.com/register/flow/flow5/splash.htm?eventid=6144&nextMessage=splash
100 Women in Hedge Funds 6th Annual Gala
News100 Women in Hedge Funds will have their 6th Annual Anniversary Gala and Benefit dinner. This year’s benefit will be for the iMentor program.
iMentor is an organization founded in 1999 by John Griffin of Blue Ridge Capital. It serves to cultivate relationships between young people and volunteer adult mentors.
To make a Reservation, donation, or for corporate sponsorship opportunities, click on https://www.100womeninhedgefunds.org/pages/gala_2007.php
Want a Mr. Mom at Home?
Breaking the Glass CeilingThis week’s post on the Wall Street Journal’s blog The Juggler, entitled A Father’s Decision to Stay Home, provoked an impassioned discussion. The posting referred to an article in Men’s Vogue this month in which award-winning New York Times correspondent Charlie LeDuff discussed his decision to give up his career (at least temporarily) and be a stay at home dad. Mr. LeDuff shared some words of advice he received: “You have to decide if the child is more important than the stature, the action, the money. If she is, you must accept it and get on with the routine.”
While women have heard variations on this theme since the beginning of time, it’s only recently that men have considered the option of being a stay at home dad. While Mr. LeDuff says that he eventually wants to return to work for the income as well as the personal fulfillment it brings, the author raises an interesting point. He asks, “Should every parent, finances permitting, spend some extended time devoted entirely to child rearing?”
Explosive responses ran the gamut from a New York Working Mom who was happy with her family’s decision to have her husband stay home with her children so she could pursue her career full time, to some mothers who agreed with the idea that a stranger could not give the same kind of love to a child that a parent could, to people who thought that Mr. LeDuff was just lazy and should go back to work.
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“Inspired Philanthropy” Book Signing Event
NewsTracy Gary will be hosting a book signing breakfast about helping women and girls through charitiable giving. The event is for Financial Women’s Associaition members, reservations are required. Attendee’s will recieve a free copy of Ms. Gary’s book Inspired Philanthropy along with their continental breakfast. More information can be found here.
“Tell Me About Yourself…”
Expert AnswersIn a job interview, could there be any other four words in the English language so terrifying, fraught with meaning, and just plain paralyzing?
When asked this question, it’s no wonder that most people tend to freeze up, get nervous, and then overcompensate by talking too much. But that’s exactly the scenario that could cost you an opportunity, according to Joann Lublin’s recent article in the Wall Street Journal.
Lublin’s article is very helpful in suggesting ways that an interviewee can avoid the “over talking” syndrome, including rehearsing short statements about how your background matches the job, making sure you understand what is being asked, and keeping an eye on the interviewer’s body language.
Reading Lublin’s article reinforced my belief that a little preparation before an interview goes a long way, not only in helping you put your best face forward, but also in helping you relax and let your true self and your best qualities shine through. End result? Hopefully, you make a great impression on the company you want to join and they make you an offer you can’t refuse.
Contributed by Kathryn Nilsson Reichert
A Lesson from the New York Marathon…
Intrepid Women SeriesPaula’s fought her way back from bitter failure (Athens Olympics 2004, when stomach problems felled her) and injury (spinal stress fractures and a foot injury in 2006), and she only gave birth to her daughter Isla in January of this year. “I never thought having a baby would be the end of my career,” she grinned as she cuddled Isla after the finish line. She’s a world-beater and a woman of inspiration.
I didn’t think that running a marathon after raising four children would be the re-start of my career, either. However, I ran the New York Marathon in 2000 – in rather more than double Paula’s time of 2:23:09. I ran the race to prove to myself that you aren’t washed up past your mid-thirties, and the law of unintended consequences meant that apart from developing some calf muscles that a body builder would envy, I unexpectedly fell into a new career.
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Third Annual PINK Conference Series
NewsThird Annual PINK Conference Series
In 2007, PINK will host its 3rd annual conference series featuring six high-impact events in cities across the US. These powerful events bring together a few select influential business leaders – who just happen to be women. Attendees can bring friends, clients, mentors or employees to enjoy an inspiring two-hour lunch with America’s most influential women and:
• DISCOVER Life/Balance Solutions
• BUILD Career Success Strategies
• LEARN Valuable Business Lessons
For more specific details on the PINK conference series visit www.pinkmagazine.com
Click here to register: https://www.signup4.net/public/ap.aspx?EID=DCCO10E&OID=130
Best Shoes for Work: High Heels Category
Intrepid Women SeriesIn this second installment of The Glass Hammer “Best Of … Series,” we build on our popular piece about the Best Work Flats to bring you an advanced segment: the Best Work High Heels. This category is substantially trickier than flats, because flats are (almost) always comfy, while heels rarely are. Thus, these three styles are winners because they rate high in both the style and comfort categories.
Here, we feature basic black, as that’s the most useful color for a pump, but the styles here come in a range of colors and textures.
This Cole Haan shoe is designed with Nike Air technology, including hidden air pockets in the soles and special cushioning in the heels. While you probably couldn’t play a decent game of basketball in them, they certainly hold up to a full day running around the office. These shoes have the added benefit of coming in low, medium and high heels, so you can adjust to your comfort level. This shoe also comes in black, brown, navy, taupe and patent. We also like the sexier, sleeker cousin to the Carma, this season’s Fiona, which gets a slightly higher style and slightly lower comfort rating.
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